Notebook Letters 10.

T in the Dark's post about listening to Fleetwood Mac in his parents' car as a kid reminded me of mine playing joy division in our car when I was eight. I used to think that the Formula 1 theme The Chain was by joy division. Matt B

Why is Earls and everyone I know raving about The Horrors' album so much? It's not so different from a lot of what's out there. It's just a bit more successful at ripping off joy division than Interpol, that's all. Gavin Nicol

The Void; Teletext page 825; 20th of May, 2009; 6/7.

DIZZEE RASCAL Bankers 9/10

After Dance Wiv Me, Dizzee has decide he wants to be a proper pop star. Thanks to Armand Van Helden's all guns blazing, utterly unstoppable beats, Dizzee sounds wild and free. The result is compelling modern pop that will surely sail to No 1.

MAGIC & FUR Christine 8/10

The imperious hauteur of Luke Haines and the golden jangle of Evan Dando combine in a special debut. Wondrous.

1/6.

New singles out this week

PAOLO NUTINI Candy 8/10

Previously content to lurk among the rank and file of inoffensive young singer-songwriter, Nutini steps up hugely. He seems relaxed, but there's a Ray Davies lift to his acoustics now and a laidback soulful sway in his vocals that marches him past his peers.

BLACK GOLD Detroit 7/10

Priime haunting Shins-esque vocals, but placed into a jackhammer house groove, they gain an intriguing visceral edge.

2/6.

New singles out this week

MAPS Let Go of The Fear 8/10

A wholly unexpected move into euphoric trance from James Chapman. The waves of keyboards are sane enough, but the insistent vocal samples and Chemical aping regularity of handrush hooks being dropped is new and fantastic.

KILL IT KID Send Me An Angel Down 8/10

Someone play this to Antony Hegarty immediately: Chris Turpin shares his stratospheric range, but it has a Mercury Rev grandeur behind it. Compelling.

3/6.

New singles out this week

THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES Ra88 8/10

A romp of howled vocals and a primal swagger they could keep up for a week, Noel Gallagher loves them: this combines danger and arrogance in the way he must have wanted on Be Here Now?

JUKEBOX THE GHOST Hold It In 7/10

Did someone order an American Keane? The Washington trio are like Tim Chaplin at his most hyperactive, the piano has a few smug show-off moves that detract from the natural hooks.

4/6.

New singles out this week

KLEERUP Longing For Lullabies 6/10

A mildly disappointing debut single by Robyn's producer Andreas Kleerup. After co-writing her superb album, more was expected than a pretty but remarkable icy techno-pop track. Phoned-in vocals by Titiyo Cherry don't help either.

THE PANICS Don't Fight It 8/10

Justly championed by Kings of Leon and Luke Steele, the Aussies move from a stunning brass hook to a choral climax via a loping funk. Radio bliss awaits.

5/6.

New singles out this week

MICACHU & THE SHAPES Golden Phone 8/10

Credit to them for trying to meld their diverse tastes into something new. But they haven't mastered any of them as yet: the vocals are gimmicky, the elastic-band riff just cheap and a keyboard breakdown wholly irritating.

PLUGS All Them Witches 8/10

Ex-Does It Offend You guitarist Morgan forms a much better band: his cocky vocal gets away with it as there are a battery of juggernauts behind him.

6/6.

Teletext page 822; 20th of May, 2008.

Your ultimate film villains

A young Patrick McGoohan as menacing road foreman red in h*ll Drivers and the older Patrick as edward longshanks in Braveheart. Ann, Edinburgh

Terence Stamp in the collector, Sheila Keith in House of Whipcord, Ray Lovelock in The Last House on The Beach, and Ray Liotta in Unlawful Entry. Keith, Gateshead

Great British villains? richard burton in villain. Tony, Feltham

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 20th of May, 2009; 1/6.

More favourite villains debated

american psycho's patrick bateman is iconic, and an unappreciated villain. Christian Bale excels in that role. Andy, Glasgow

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions. She is an underrated actress. James, Eastbourne

Michael Pitt should be mentioned for Funny Games, very menacing. Dean, Newport

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 20th of May, 2009; 2/6.

Perkins pops up

Anthony Perkins starred in another worthwhile tailored role, that of dennis pitt in Noel Black's sublimely comedic romantic thriller and handsomely bucolic Pretty Poison, in 1968. This coupled Perkins with Tuesday Weld in a confabulatory tale of deception and intrigue. Dallas fans can also see Ken Kercheval making his big screen debut. t rivers, suss*x

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 20th of May, 2009; 3/6.

Are gangster films overrated?

No more bleating on about gangster movies, people! the godfather is indulgent rubbish, Brian De Palma's scarface glorifies everything it sets out to condemn, and goodfellas is near worthless as it's based on the confessions of a money-hungry egotist. The only decent gangster films are Mean Streets, Drunken Butterfly and Miller's Crossing, and they're not even gangster movies anyway. Richard, Salford

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 20th of May, 2009; 4/6.

Is Tom Cruise Oscar-worthy?

Is my opinion one of the most underrated actors is Tom Cruise, he starred in many big films, such as Rain Man, Colour of Money, Interview With the vampire, Jerry Maguire, Taps, Collateral, Born On The Fourth of July, Magnolia, Tropic Thunder and also Valkyrie. He is a great actor and should have won at least two Oscars by now. Matt, Sc*nthorpe

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 20th of May, 2009; 5/6.

Switchblade ruined by ending

Switchblade Romance is a great film up unil the final 10 minutes. The twist at the end is ridiculous as it cheapens the whole film. Where did the truck come from as her friend drove her there? How could the car chase have happened? If you're going to include a surprise ending, make sure it stands up to the basic internal logic of the film. Otherwise, like in this case, you ruin a good film. Marc, Salford

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 20th of May, 2009; 6/6.

New topic: bands who are better live than on record. The Who were a fantastic live band, and Who's Next is far superior compared to their studio stuff. The shackles are off from constraints of a studio. Peter Chambers

I wonder where we'd be if we all had the negativity that Indiegirl keeps showing to Kasabian. She choked on her coffee because I criticised her hatred of the band? Or did her coffee have the consistency of tar? Aberdareblue

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of May, 2009; 1/7.

During the recent heatwaves, I wondered what had happened to The Magic Numbers. Their first album hasn't been beaten this decade for making it seen as if the sun will never stop shining. And, as the inevitable rain beats against my lounge window, their ballads cheer me up from the gloom. Hurry back.

Who else is excited by The Lock Up Tent line-up at Reading/ leeds Festival this year? It's more varied than normal. Rival Schools will be immense. TaDa

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of May, 2009; 2/7.

So what if Manic Street Preachers' new album is being censored by supermarkets, when bikini clad women on album sleeves aren't?

If the sleeve for Journal For Plague Lovers is violent, why shouldn't it be covered? Usually it's the other way round, when s*x is censored and violence is glorified. If this is the shape of things to come, I'd rather it was this way. Crispy

Void: Have you even seen MSP's sleeve?

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of May, 2009; 3/7.

Seeing Alanis Morissette's Live In Tokyo DVD from 1999 reminded me how great her first two albums are. Her recent shows were still cool, but Thank U was the only song she performed from her second album. That's one of my favourite songs of hers. And the video is really s*xy. Rich Barrett

cannibal Corpse are indeed hilarious. You can't help but titter at song titles like F**ed With A Knife. They're barking. Matth Stil

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of May, 2009; 4/7.

Why aren't The Music playing at any festivals this summer? I know their brilliant Strength In Numbers album was out last year. But, with so many festivals this summer and them being the perfect festival band, I'd hoped they'd at least play one. Katie Mayhew

It's great that Rancid are coming back after so long. I know a lot of people haven't forgiven Tim Armstrong for writing for a Pink album, but I'm sure the new album will rock. Bill Homer

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of May, 2009; 5/7.

With Beyoncé still tottering around on her heavy legs, caterwauling her overblown tosh and producing double albums under an alter-ego (Prince, anyone?), Kelly Rowland's new single is better than all Beyoncé's mush put together.

When Love Takes Over is sung by someone prettier, who dances without appearing to have a hernia and doesn't have to try so hard all the time. Life sucks, eh, Sasha? Rebecca Nahid

The Void; Teletext page 825; 21st of May, 2009; 6/7.

My fave films: The Manchurian Candidate (the original), LA Confidential, The Bourne Identity, Casino Royale and goodfellas. Peter, Saxmundham

My five top movies: Dances With Wolves; The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Airplane!, Dressed To Kill and Mulholland Drive. Richard, Kingswinford

Top five films: goodfellas, Cannonball Run, Quadrophenia, Pulp Fiction, and Breakdance: The Movie.

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of May, 2009; 1/6.

More favourites of all time

My favourite fave films are: Citizen Kane, king kong (1933), Pulp Fiction, Donnie Darko and Duck Soup (Marx Brothers). John, leeds

My top five movies in no order: terminator 2, Dumb And Dumber. Smokey And The bandit, the godfather and Se7en. Adam, Belfast

Richard- Re: Third Man spy theory. Fair point. Sue, Whitstable

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of May, 2009; 2/6.

Viewer loving comments

I'm not a serious film geek, but I love the comments. Sean- I watched Stan and Ollie's Babes In Toyland. Tina, Northampton

Best child actor at the moment award would go to Bill Milner. He's so marvellous in Som of rambow and Is Anybody There?. John, Newport

I assumed James Bond was a cover given by the secret services to any agent. Am I wrong? Sean, Baglan

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of August, 2009; 3/6.

2000 horrors a highlight

While nowhere near the 1960s, '70s or '80s, this decade has bettered the '90s for horror and its variations. the eye (original), dog soldiers, The Descent, may, R-Point, The Last Winter, ginger snap 1- 3, Diary of the dead, and the Halloween and Dawn of the dead remakes, were my highlights. Damien, Birmingham

Anthony Perkins gives a great performance as a vampire in an unknown gem I love called daughter of darkness, set in Budapest. Kirsten, Runcorn

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of May, 2009; 4/6.

Is scarface hatred irrational?

Am I the only person that thinks scarface is rubbish? Steven, washington

Lizzy, Ealing- We're at it again, it meaning a Ewan McGregor obsession! Obi-wan Kenobi was added in the review to remind us of his recent big screen big movie role. Chill out! Nina, London

Momento is able to show two different cuts of the film, so how hard is it for both adults and family cuts to be available on some DVDs? Shaun, Basildon

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 21st of May, 2009; 5/6.